In solidarity with a massive protest that erupted at New York’s JFK Airport January 28, the city’s Taxi Workers Alliance organized a one-hour strike at the international terminal.

New Yorkers flocked to protest after President Donald Trump’s Executive Order banned legal immigration from seven predominately Muslim countries and refugees from anywhere.

Hundreds of immigrants were detained that day by border agents upon arrival at international airports across the U.S., including dozens at JFK.

The New York Taxi Workers Alliance represents more than 19,000 drivers in the city. “Ninety-five percent of cab drivers are immigrants, from over 100 countries,” said co-founder Javaid Tariq. “Sixty to 70 percent of our members are Muslim.”

“We had this experience after 9/11,” Tariq said. “Many Americans don’t know the difference between the Sikh and Muslims religions. Sikh and Muslims were the victims of many hate crimes.

“Since President Trump signed the Executive Order, there was a bombing of a mosque in Texas, and we are worried that there is going to be more violence against drivers.”

Rapidly organized

The Taxi Workers organized quickly to get the word out to members in just a few hours.

“We sent a robo-call and email blast and sent messages to our members,” Tariq said. “Our members and organizing committee members went to the dispatch lot—where they dispatch cabs to the different terminals—and asked drivers to not go pick up passengers there for the duration of the strike.”

The work stoppage was a success. The airport’s taxi cab pickup line sat empty during the 6:00 hour.

Uber takes advantage

That night the app-based ride company Uber conspicuously announced over social media that its “surge pricing” pricing was no longer in effect at JFK, in essence lowering the cost of a ride from the airport during peak hours.

Almost immediately #DeleteUber started trending on Twitter, as protestors around the country decried the company for encouraging drivers to cross a picket line. Though the announced strike had technically just ended, there were still no taxis around, and the protests were still growing.

Uber CEO Travis Kalanick has been advising Trump as a member of the administration’s 16-member business policy committee, which also includes corporate executives from Walmart, IBM, General Electric, Disney, General Motors and several Wall Street investment firms.

More strikes needed

By the next day, Uber was backpedaling. The company claimed it wasn’t attempting to break the taxi strike. Kalanick even issued a statement offering to provide three months' compensation to Uber drivers impacted by the ban.

But taxi workers aren’t buying what Uber is selling—and they don’t think you should be either. “Uber is a greedy company with very close ties to Donald Trump,” said Tariq. “Everyone should delete Uber and give their business to professional drivers.”

Looking to the future, Tariq believes that the overwhelming member participation and public support the strike attracted are clear signals that unions should escalate their actions against the administration.

“In the future, we might engage in similar strategies,” he said. “We need to keep working against these unfair executive orders.”

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Posted by mary.bohannan@mail.ru on 2017-02-06 06:41:41

I appreciate very much the plea of these drivers. One very practical consideration however, has to be taken into account if taxis are going to keep or restore business. Cars need to accommodate customers. Tall customers don't stand a chance of being comfortable in the back of most NY City yellow cabs. I know. I'm tall. The situation can also be complicated by the lack of air conditioning provided by some cabbies. I got into the back of a fairly new car and had to turn side ways to be able to sit in it, and the car was so uncomfortable for me and stank of cigars, plus had no air conditioning. The driver refused to turn the air on and roll up his window, plus the music was loud and obnoxious. I could not wait to get out of that cab. This is not how you keep customers coming back.

Appreciation of unions and rights to a level playing ground are not lost on me. I was brought up in a Union President's home. I respect and honor unions. But let us be realistic about keeping customers happy, too.

Posted by NJHope on 2017-02-04 06:29:22

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"Working In These Times" is dedicated to providing independent and incisive coverage of the labor movement and the struggles of workers to obtain safe, healthy and just workplaces. more